Wolf says firing intended to protect agency's integrity

Erik Arneson was appointed to the open records post by former Gov. Tom Corbett.

Erik Arneson was appointed to the open records post by former Gov. Tom Corbett. (STEVE ESACK, THE MORNING CALL)

Peter JacksonOf The Associated Press

Advocate urges Gov Wolf to reconsider open records firing

HARRISBURG — Gov. Tom Wolf says his firing of his predecessor's appointee as chief of the state Office of Open Records was designed to protect its integrity.

The Democratic governor, responding Monday to a state Senate Republican lawsuit challenging his action, says GOP Gov. Tom Corbett's last-minute appointment of Erik Arneson was anything but open and transparent.

Wolf says one of Arneson's first acts during his brief tenure was to demote one of the agency's lawyers in favor of a former Corbett staffer. Wolf says by removing Arneson, he was standing up against efforts to turn the open records office into a political operation.

Earlier, a leading advocate of open government called on Wolf to reconsider Arneson's firing.

The Pennsylvania Freedom of Information Coalition said Monday that Wolf's decision last week to oust Arneson and appoint an acting director will have a long-term, negative impact on its integrity. Arneson was appointed by Corbett a week before he left office.

The coalition says Wolf's action could lead to firings by future governors who dislike the agency's rulings and erode the agency's authority.

The coalition, part of a national network of more than 50 similar groups, is a nonprofit volunteer group working to increase government transparency and help citizens understand the state's open-records and open-meetings laws.

A lawsuit filed in Commonwealth Court says Arneson is entitled to serve a full six-year term and that Wolf illegally terminated him without cause.